Browsed byTag: simple recipes

Cauliflower is a wonderful ingredient to cook with. This cruciferous vegetable has a mildly earthy and nutty flavor. It’s easy to cook, a nice source of vitamin C and quiet filling as vegetables go.

I try to incorporate vegetables in most meals, but once a week I like to highlight them in my Meatless Mondays. It is a simple way to not only diversify the week’s meals, but also experiment with whatever seasonal vegetables tickle your fancy at the moment.

The are many ways to cook with cauliflower. Simply roasting with olive oil, salt + pepper will result in a nice gold brown texture which enhances the nutty flavors. Combined with the sweetness from the caramelized onions and the tangy tahini sauce- you have yourself a flavor explosion made from a few simple ingredients.

Directions:Place cauliflower florets + onion in a baking sheet.
Add herbs, sprinkle with salt, pepper and red chili flakes, then drizzle with olive oil.
Using your hands, mix ingredients well until everything is evenly covered with oil.
Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25-35 minutes or until golden brown.

Every year my family hosts a big Memorial Day BBQ for our friends and family. On the menu are burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, veggies and lots of side salads and condiments. Over the years, I’ve learned to perfect what my friends call “The Naz Burger”.” It’s simple and delicious, and based on the feedback I’ve received on the 700+ burgers (that’s not a typo) I’ve made over the last decade, I think you’ll like them too!

You too can make a great burger if you cover these basics:
-Good quality meat (I use beef)
-Minimal seasoning
-Properly made patties
-Not messing with the burgers too much
-Right cooking time
-Fun condiments (pickling recipes coming soon!)

Directions:
A traditional hamburger is made of ground chuck, rich in both fat and flavor.
Ideally, you want a ratio of 80% meat, 20% fat.Keep meat in the fridge until ready. Hamburgers are the only meat we cook cold.
This is done so the bits of fat are solid, otherwise they smear and who wants mushy burgers?
Combine Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper with meat in a bowl.
Use your hands to gently mix all ingredients.
Grab a handful of meat and form into patties (I use a measuring cup for consistency).
My burgers are approximately 1/2 a pound each (about 8 ounces).
Make sure patty is evenly shaped so it cooks evenly (one side is not thicken than the other).Don’t over handle the meat (remember fat melting = smeared mushy burger).Expert tip: Take your thumb and make a divot in the center of the burger, making a 1/4-inch-deep indentation (your patties will kinda look like donuts!).
This helps keep their shape while cooking, otherwise burger bubble up when exposed to heat.

Let’s get cookin’!
I use a charcoal grill, if you’re using gas- preheat your grill to medium high.For medium burgers, cook for approximately 4-5 minutes on each side.You can flip your burgers more than once.DO NOT PRESS DOWN ON THE BURGERS! You end up squeezing out flavorful juices and the dripping fat will flare up the fire.
Speaking of flare ups, they happen. It’s OK. The first few burgers that hit the grill will most likely do this. Don’t stress. Embrace it. It’s like the first pancake- rarely perfect.Use your senses, watch the burger and the heat- you will get the hang of this!
Now it’s time to enjoy your delicious, juicy masterpiece.
Serve right away with your favorite bun and condiments and enjoy!

I love eggs. It is one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen and I’ve enjoyed learning different ways of working with it. From a humble omelette to a sumptuous souffle, the options of what you can make with eggs are infinite. For those of us who are not vegan, eggs are an excellent wellspring of nutrition in a single source- eggs provide proteins, antioxidants, fatty acids, amino acids, and vitamins and minerals.

Omelettes are great on weekends, like this Scallion and Mushroom Turmeric Omelette we love. On weekdays the classic hard boiled egg is my go to for either topping a salad for lunch or an express breakfast on busier days.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said “There is always a best way of doing everything, if it be to boil an egg.” I 100% agree with that statement. Here I share with you what I consider the best way to make hard-boiled eggs. It will be one the simplest and most satisfying dishes you make. And since here at Basil and Roses we love flowers so much, we present our eggs shaped like one! It’s just beautiful and we think it will put a smile on your face.

The key to perfect hard-boiled eggs is to NOT boil them. You read correctly.

Directions:
Place eggs in water in a pot and cover with lid.
Make sure eggs are covered with at least 1 inch of water.
Bring water to boil.
As soon as water starts boiling, turn off the stove.
For a softer yolk, let sit for approximately 5 minutes.
Then run under cold water, peel and enjoy.
For the perfectly firm yolk, let sit for 10 minutes before running under cold water and peeling.
Sprinkle with sea salt (or regular salt) and fresh black pepper.
To present like the beautiful flower above-
Cut 2 eggs in half, then cut the half into a quarter and arrange like a flower on the plate.

Plato said “Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.” This presentation and the incredible miracle that is the egg are two great examples of that notion.

Something salty compliments eggs well. Feta cheese is a great choice.
Here I served the eggs with a typical Persian breakfast of Feta, Tomato, herbs and pita (noon o paneer o sabzi!)

Fish tacos, how we love them so… truly one of my favorite things to eat. I enjoy indulging in crispy fried versions once in a while, but in general prefer a healthier baked or grilled version. With the immense flavor of this tequila-lime recipe nothing will be lost, promise! There is just something so gratifying about a good fish taco. All you need is a nice flaky fish, a zesty salsa with a kick, guacamole, a crunchy slaw and of course a nice amount of citrus and spice and everything nice!

My family loved this recipe and I hope you enjoy it too. With summer just beginning, this is the perfect dish to make for warm afternoons in the backyard served with a refreshing margarita!

Directions:
Cut fish into smallish pieces (approx 3-4 inches long).
Make the marinade by combining tequila, lime juice, olive oil, cilantro and jalapeno, S+P in a bowl.
This smells amazing! The alcohol burns off during cooking but the tequila flavor is awesome!
Place fish in the marinade and cover. Let sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
In the mean time, you can make the fun accompaniments for the tacos.
Once marinaded, place in preheated oven of 325 degrees F.
Bake for approximately 20 minutes.

I think avocado is the most magnificent fruits in the world! It is rich, creamy, earthy, nutty, and savory. Avocados also have great health benefits. The list is long but to name a few they are high in potassium, good fats and they are one of the few high protein fruits. I love it’s creamy texture and use it as a substitute for butter or oils often. And of course, nowhere is the beautiful avocado highlighted more than in a classic guacamole! I don’t use garlic or tomato’s in my recipe, but feel free to add them if it makes you happy…

P.S. This recipe also works really well for avocado toast. It’s excellent on toasted sourdough bread with a couple of slices of tomato and a pinch of sea salt. Yum!

Forget store-bought salsa and with a few simple steps make your own tasty Salsa Fresca!
In Spanish, pico de gallo literally means the “beek of the rooster.” An internet search led me to several colorful explanations for the etymology of the term, but mostly urban legends and no definitive answer. According to Wikipedia “in Mexico it is sometimes called salsa mexicana (Mexican sauce). Because the colors of the red tomato, white onion, green chili are reminiscent of the colors of the Mexican flag, it is also sometimes called salsa bandera (flag sauce).” So there you go.

Now, let’s make some yummy flag sauce! This is a party favorite to be enjoyed as a dip with chips, and it ends up being great on tacos, nachos, burritos, grilled chicken… and so on.

Directions:
Chop tomato, onion, jalapeno, parsley and cilantro.
Combine ingredients in a bowl and add lime juice, olive, S+P.
Taste the salsa while you are mixing. Adjust lime or salt based on your personal preference.
I like to start light and add if needed.
Enjoy with tortilla chips while you’re making the meal, but leave some for the fish tacos!

I love quinoa and use it often in my recipes. I like the health benefits of this gluten-free, high fiber content, magnesium and iron rich seed which also happens to be one of the most protein rich foods we can eat. The Incas discovered the seed around 4 thousand years ago, which they believed increased the stamina of their warriors. In the last decade, Quinoa has grown in popularity and is considered a “super food!” Quinoa is not a grain. It’s actually a seed that is related to the spinach and beet families. And although I don’t believe it’s a cardinal sin to eat carbs (as seen in my reviews of these restaurants), I do enjoy the rice like feel of quinoa without the heavy feeling of carbohydrate-rich foods.

Quinoa is a great item to have in the pantry- it can be used as a side on its own or, mixed with veggies and proteins. Here is a personal favorite of mine, mixed with a kind of deconstructed ratatouille... enjoy!

While the veggies roast, cook the 2 cups of quinoa in 4 cups of water.
It will cook in approximately 20 minutes.
Stir occasionally and fluff with a fork when done and all the water has evaporated.
In a separate bowl, combine quinoa with veggies.
Add your favorite nut. I especially like sunflower seeds or walnuts in this recipe.
Give the mixture a squeeze of lemon and more salt + pepper to taste.

Voila you’r done! This dish is great on it’s own as a vegetarian option or can be served as side.

Note-I sometimes keep a bit of the roasted veggies aside and make a pita pocket with it the next day. Just add hummus and pickles and you have a totally different dish that’s supper yummy for an instant lunch the next day!

Beyond being nutritious and tasty, salmon is also an incredibly versatile ingredient to work with. I only use wild caught salmon. Stay away from the farmed variety. The diet the fish are fed are is bad for our bodies and pollute the water. They also have 1/10 of the omega-3 fatty acids which is one of the main reasons I like to have this nutritious protein in my diet.

Here I highlight a few simple but elegant ways to prepare this wonderful protein:

Smoked Salmon and Creme Fraiche Canapes with Fresh Dill

Sesame Crusted Salmon Fillet

Cold Salmon Salad

I love to entertain often, but don’t always have time to prepare extravagant menus. The smoked salmon canapes with creme fraiche are easy to make yet quite elegant. Simply place small pieces of smoked salmon on a thin cracker of your choice or pumpernickel cocktail bread. Top with a dollop of creme fraiche and sprig of fresh dill and voila! These are a hit every time.

Smoked Salmon & Creme Fraiche Canapes with Fresh Dill

Sesame Crusted Baked Salmon

This recipe is great for dinner any night of the week or on a large salmon fillet for entertaining.

Ingredients:

1 pound wild salmon (can do a smaller or larger piece depending on size of group you’re serving)

2-3 tablespoons olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

1/2 cup sesame seeds

Lemon wedges + fresh herbs for garnish (optional)

Directions:

Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon on the salmon.

Drizzle with olive oil or sesame oil.

Season with salt + pepper.

Coat entire top of salmon with white or black or mixed sesame seeds.

Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.

Garnish with herbs, lemon wedges and serve with any pasta, rice or grain you like.

Cold Salmon Salad or Sandwich

What’s better than a fabulous dinner? A new fabulous lunch with the leftover.

I love cold salmon sandwiches or salmon topped on a bright and colorful salad.

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This is where my passions collide. Food, Flowers, Fashion, Family, Beautiful Things and the influence of my Persian culture that seems to be the poetic filter I see the world through. Read More about “About Me”…